Florida State has few holes to fill when spring practice kicks off today, but one of those is replacing receiver Bert Reed. Freshman Kelvin Benjamin of Belle Glade is ready to jump into the mix for playing time.

FSU already is deep at the position with six of its top seven wide outs returning. But the 6-foot-6 Benjamin is the most ballyhooed of the 2011 class to be redshirted last year and should help make this group that emerged last season with freshman Rashad Greene as its leader even better.
“Benjamin is making progress,” coach Jimbo Fisher told Seminoles.com. “Understanding how to finish, understanding how to press all the time. (He) has gotten himself in really good shape now that he can control that body. (I) liked his progression. … I like his attitude.”

Benjamin is receiving national recognition. ESPN.com national FB writer Mark Schlabach tweeted he would be “stunned” if Benjamin isn’t a star in 2012 and CBSSports.com’s Bruce Feldman listed Benjamin as on of the 10 most intriguing freshmen entering offseason practices.

Benjamin’s size could become another great weapon for QB EJ Manuel. He was the No. 8 WR in the nation and the No. 60 player overall coming out of Glades Central and now has a year of practice under his belt. This could be a special receiving group.

With the Seminoles returning starters at almost every position, the competition during spring practice will be mostly for backup spots and newcomers pushing for playing time.

FSU loses just four starters and eight players from their two-deep depth chart following a 9-4 season that ended with a victory over Notre Dame in the Champs Sports Bowl. Fisher, though, will add about a dozen redshirt freshmen from the consensus top three recruiting class of 2011 into the mix when FSU hits the practice field today and waiting to join them in August is a group of true freshmen from a 2012 class that ESPN ranked as No. 2 in the nation.

Florida State had one glaring weakness last season that is sure to receive plenty of attention this spring. The running game was among the worst in the nation, averaging just 112.2 yards per game, which put more pressure on Manuel.

After Chris Thompson suffered a serious back injury during the season, true freshman Devonta Freeman emerged as the team’s leading rusher. More is expected next season from freshman James Wilder Jr. and the Seminoles signed Mario Pender, the No. 4 ranked running back in the nation according to Rivals, in February.

But the biggest competition could be on the offensive line where 11 players have started at least one game in his career, including last season’s true freshmen Austin Barron, Tre Jackson, Josue Matias and Bobby Hart, all of whom started the bowl game.

Of the 11, seven are returning. They will be joined by Henry Orelus, a sophomore from Belle Glade who started four games in 2010 but did not play last season because of a concussion, and Daniel Glauser, who enrolled this winter after signing out of New Mexico Military Institute.